Massachusetts Court Stops RIAA Juggernaut

A Massachusetts district court blocked the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from using a single court in Washington, D.C., to issue subpoenas for Massachusetts students' identities. "The court rejected the RIAA's bald-faced attempt to use a single D.C. court ruling to steamroller Internet users' privacy nationwide," said EFF staff attorney Wendy Seltzer. "This ruling confirms that Due Process continues to apply, even on the Internet, and we hope other colleges and ISPs will take similar steps."

District Judge Joseph Tauro granted MIT and Boston College motions to quash RIAA subpoenas demanding identities of students on the university networks.